UAAP Volleyball: La Salle too tough for NU; FEU drubs UP

MANILA, Philippines – This early in the season, the De La Salle University Lady Archers are already looking poised to contend for this year’s Women’s Volleyball title.

The Lady Bulldogs found out firsthand on Wednesday, December 11, just how tough the in-form 3-time defending champions are.

The 4-peat seeking La Salle turned a mouth-watering matchup into a spanking as they crushed National University in straight sets, 25-8, 25-22, 25-19 to keep their record immaculate in the 76th UAAP Women’s Volleyball tournament before an electric crowd at The Arena in San Juan City.

After a walk-in-the-park first set where La Salle took off to a rousing start and never looked back, the Lady Bulldogs came out of nowhere and erected an 8-3 lead early in the second frame but the Lady Archers proved to be too hot for them to handle as Abi Marano and Cyd Demecillo combined to steal the show and the second set by 3, 25-22.

National U, however, did not let the fans leave the arena disappointed as sisters Dindin and Jaja Santiago bravely took on the menacing La Salle frontline and finished with 12 and 10 markers respectively.

But the La Salle squad has their eyes trained on another UAAP championship.

Although the Lady Bulldogs battled the reigning champions into a relatively tight third set, it was La Salle who had the last laugh as they connected on 35 spikes and 7 aces which ultimately spelled NU’s first defeat of the season via straight sets.

Demecillo starred for the Taft crew anew as she wrapped up the game with an all-around performance of 13 points – coming from 6 hits, 4 aces and 3 blocks – while Mika Reyes and Marano pitched in 11 and 10.

La Salle, coming off back-to-back wins over fellow contenders Ateneo de Manila and University of Santo Tomas in their first 2 assignments, now occupies solo first place in the standings at 3-0 while the Lady Bulldogs drops to second at 2-1.

FEU drubs UP in straight sets

Meanwhile, The Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws silenced the University of the Philippines Lady Maroons in straight sets, 25-19, 25-18, 25-17, to get back to its winning ways. 

After absorbing their first loss of the season against Ateneo de Manila University on weekend, the Lady Tamaraws vented their ire on the hapless Maroons as they crushed the Diliman-based team on both ends of the floor, scoring 37 hits, 10 blocks, and 9 service aces.

Mary Remy Palma was the night’s biggest hitter for FEU as she topscored in the game with 15 markers while Palarong Pambansa find Bernadette Pons contributed 14 to help lift the Lady Tamaraws to shared second place in the standings with National University.

It was a rough day at the office for UP as they had trouble breaching the Lady Tamaraw’s defense, only converting 20 hits while committing too many lapses all-game long.

Angeli Araneta continued her fine form as she led UP’s losing cause with 10 points while Kathy Bersola finished with 8.

With the win, FEU goes up to 2-1 while the Maroons remain winless so far in 3 games. –Rappler.com